Thaw Out! Local Hot Springs and Saunas Where you can Warm Up and Relax

By Rebecca Armstrong February 26, 2014

hotsprings

[addtoany]

!–paging_filter–pSpring is just barely upon us, but you may still need to shake out those winter chills after a long and dreary season. In our March issue, a href=”http://\/\/staging.seattlemag.com/article/where-travel-olympic-peninsula-sol-duc…” target=”_blank”we wrote about road tripping it to Sol Duc Hot Springs and Resort/a, which is nestled in a valley carved by the mighty Sol Duc River in the Olympic Peninsula and embraced by old-growth evergreens. But we couldn’t just stop at one. Here are a few of our favorite not-too-far-away places to soak up the healing hot mineral waters./p
pThe Olympic Hot Springs are worth the drive westward. Here’s why: access to these hot springs is free, thanks to the naturally occurring thermal waters, and they’re located in a peaceful undeveloped forest grove. After a short 2.5-mile hike (this hike is currently closed due to the Elwha River Restoration Project, but is expected to re-open later this year) to the springs to get your blood moving, you’ll be rewarded with a therapeutic soak in the calming waters. Note: it’s not entirely uncommon to find other bathers in their birthday suits. Other ways to access these springs, include a much longer hike via Appleton Pass (about 15 miles) or via the Aurora Ridge trail./p
pTake the 1.5-hour drive east of Snoqualmie Falls toa href=”http://www.goldmyer.org/galleryhotsprings.php ” target=”_blank” Goldmyer Hot Springs/a, where multiple natural pools of varying degrees, connected by small waterfalls, are nestled deep in the Cascade foothills. nbsp;Nudity warning also applies here./p
pUp for a north-of-the-border adventure? Travel to maple tree country, where the five mineral pools at the eleganta href=”http://www.harrisonresort.com/Hot-Springs-Pools.aspx” target=”_blank” Harrison Hot Springs Resort/a near Vancouver B.C. have hosted such stars as Clark Gable and John Wayne. And just a boat ride away from the coastal town of Tofino, B.C., a href=”http://www.gotofino.com/tofinohotsprings.html” target=”_blank”Hot Springs Cove /aencloses a natural rocky grouping of meandering geothermal tidepools. The half-hour trek through the forest allows you enough time to clear your mind and get your blood flowing in preparation for the calming tidal bath./p
pAnd if you can’t get away at all, that’s no reason to stay out in the cold. Here are a few spa-like sanctuaries around town that are equipped with saunas and steam rooms:/p
pFor some good old fashioned relaxation, head to a href=”http://www.banya5.com/about.php#amenities” target=”_blank”Banya 5 in South Lake Union/a, a Russian-style spa and sauna. There, you’ll find the intense but quintessentially Russian emparilka, /eman extremely hot dry sauna. Recover afterward with a stop in Banya’s tea room or jaunt next door and sample a heavier beverage (read: vodka) from the Venik Lounge. If you happen to be up for the invigorating emvenik/em massage, which involves a good full-body lashing with birch branches, head to a href=”http://www.downtownbanya.com/services/massage/” target=”_blank”Downtown Banya Spa located in Everet/at./p
pLooking for something a little less extreme? Try the glowing ladies-only a href=”http://www.ladywellspa.com/” target=”_blank”Ladywell Vitality Spa and Sauna in Greenwood./a A cedar sauna, pink salt sauna, and hot and cold soaking pools present the opportunity to release stress and toxins, and feel purified and soothed in every way. Extra bonus: it has an indoor waterfall./p

 

Follow Us

Summer of Aquatic Bliss

Summer of Aquatic Bliss

Dive into diverse delights

To celebrate this summer of aquatic bliss, we rounded up providers that deliver all the nautical thrills at a fraction of the overhead. Along the way you can also encounter indigenous lands, marine mammals, and distant islands...

Food Flight

Food Flight

The best portable meals to grab on the way to Sea-Tac

Crunching through a fresh bánh mì at the far end of Terminal C at Sea-Tac International Airport or unwrapping an oversized cemita during boarding sits just at the edge of acceptable airport behavior. Not because someone shouldn’t be able to enjoy some of Seattle’s finest sandwiches or slices en route, but simply because...

Hidden Washington: Leavenworth All Year

Hidden Washington: Leavenworth All Year

This Bavarian-style village in the Cascade Mountains offers more than just Oktoberfest and Christmas celebrations

Beyond the beer and bratwurst and lively seasonal celebrations — notably Oktoberfest with a “K” and Christmas with a heaping dose of Nutcrackers — Leavenworth is a fabulous place to spend a long weekend...

Got to Get to California

Got to Get to California

The state’s stunning beauty is on full display in these pastoral midsize cities

Just like the 1987 Seattle Supersonics, California has a Big Three. Xavier McDaniel, the “X-Man,” is Los Angeles, flashy and often spectacular...